OCP and the Ministry of Higher Education mobilize 1 billion dirhams to propel Research, Development, and Innovation in Morocco

April 7, at the UM6P campus in Benguerir: The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (MESRSI) and OCP Foundation are strengthening their collaboration through a strategic partnership aimed at making research and innovation key drivers of national development. This partnership is formalized by the signing of a framework agreement between the two parties, signed by the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Mr. Azzedine EL MIDAOUI, and the Chairman and CEO of OCP Group, Mr. Mostafa TERRAB.

With a co-financing fund of 1 billion dirhams, the program will span four editions between 2025 and 2028, with a clear ambition: to make applied research a strategic lever to support the country’s economic, social, and environmental transitions.

Three Structuring Objectives

1. Strengthen human capital: Train a new generation of researchers and PhDs capable of tackling tomorrow's scientific and technological challenges.

2. Develop knowledge and technologies: Leverage research for the benefit of society and the economy, focusing on concrete impact, innovation, and technological transfer.

3. Shine internationally: Enhance Morocco’s visibility and positioning on the global R&D stage, also mobilizing Moroccan expertise abroad.

Key Messages:

A Program Anchored in Economic Reality

The PNARDI aligns the priorities of national research with the Kingdom's strategic industrial challenges, with a results-oriented approach:

• A structured framework over 10 years, until 2035, for gradual and sustainable support.
• A dynamic based on academic excellence, industrial competitiveness, and actor synergy.

A Strong Bridge Between Academia and Industry

The PNARDI accelerates connections between the academic world and key economic sectors:

• Concrete pathways between laboratories and companies to develop high-impact solutions.
• A clear ambition: to place Moroccan innovation at the heart of national and continental industrial transformation.

A Launchpad for Moroccan Talents

This program represents a unique opportunity for researchers, start-ups, and innovators:

• An ecosystem conducive to scientific boldness, targeted funding, and strategic support.
• A structured platform to generate solutions that address Morocco’s and its region's challenges.